Teacher’s advice
When the Lord closes a door, somewhere else he opens a window. Whenever you are feeling unhappy, you just try to think of nice things. --- Essence of life.
☆ essence['esəns]n. 本质，精华
The two things are the same in outward form but different in essence.
这两样东西表面相同，但实质不同。
The beauty found in each and every person is the essence of life.
在每个人身上发现的美，是他/她生命的本质。
A proverb:
The essence of life is the pursuit of happiness.
生命的本质在于追求快乐。
People spend their whole life thinking about the essence of life. What should we do in order to gain true happiness? Someone thinks: the essence of life is struggle, rather than taking. Someone thinks:Life is a walking process of the constant search discovery and chase. A famous saying goes that happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievements and the thrill of creative effort. Aristotle said that the essence of life is the pursuit of happiness. So do you agree that happiness lies in the process of pursuing it?
More and more people regard money as the primary basis of a happy life. In this case, they are going after high-paid job. Most of the businessmen tend to dedicate their life to their business instead of spending time with their families. Even worse, they are prone to suffer various health problems. How can we get a balance between work and leisure? Maybe you are still wondering at a crossroad and don’t know where to go.
Here are some tips: Find free or cheap pleasures.Rediscover what's important. Of ten times we spend tons of money, shopping, going out, watching movies, eating out … without really enjoying life. And when we stop to think about it, we never have time for the things we really want to do.Well, that's probably because your life is filled with things which aren't very important to you. Instead, step back and really think about what's important to you. Then get rid of the other stuff, and focus on what’s important to you.
Always believe that goodthings are possible, and remember that mistakes can be lessons that lead to discoveries. Take your fear and transform it into trust; learn to rise above anxiety and doubt. Turn your “worry hours” into “productive hours”. Take the energy that you have wasted and direct it toward every worthwhile effort that you can be involved in. You will see beautiful things happen when you allow yourself to experience the joys of life. You will find happiness when you adopt positive thinking into your daily routine and make it an important part of your world.
Cherish now and make everyday count. Be brave to face the future. Dare to dream and make your brightest dreams come true. Learn to laugh and listen. Don't aspire to get the unreachable perfection, nor merely to gain approval in the eyes of your friends. Cherish, above all, your individuality. Realize always that you are capable of reaching difficult goals and exceeding them. Befor giving. Think kindly of others and think kindly of yourself. What really matters is: being at peace with yourself and the world around you. Then you can find happiness and understand the essence of life!
To Youth
The Goodness of life
生命的美好
Though there is much to be concerned about, there is far, far more for which to be thankful. Though life’s goodness can at times be overshadowed, it is never outweighed. For every single act that is senselessly destructive,there are thousands more small, quiet acts of love, kindness and compassion. For every person who seeks to hurt, there are many, many more who devote their lives to helping and to healing. There is goodness to life that cannot be denied.
尽管有很多事让人忧虑，但相比而言，值得感激的事要多得多。尽管生命的美好有时被蒙上阴影，但它却永远不会被埋没。相对于每一个无谓的破坏行为而言，都是更多数以千计更为微小的、包含着爱、友善和同情的举动静静地上演着。相对每一个试图伤害他人的人而言，都是更多的人致力于帮助他人，治愈他人的创伤。生命的美好不能否认。
In the most magnificent vistas and in the smallest details, look closely, for that goodness always comes shining through. There is no limit to the goodness of life. It grows more abundant with each new encounter. The more you experience and appreciate the goodness of life, the more there is to be lived. Even when the cold winds blow and the world seems to be covered in foggy shadows, the goodness of life lives on. Open your eyes, open your heart, and you will see that goodness is everywhere.
在最为壮观的前景和最为琐碎的细节中，请仔细观察，因为美好的事物总是散发着耀眼的光芒闪亮登场。生命的美好没有界限。每一次相遇都会使这美好变得越发丰富。你经历的越多，越能欣赏生命的美好，生命中的美好就会变得越多。即使当寒风袭来，整个世界似乎被雾气掩盖之时，生命的美好仍会存在。睁开双眼，打开心扉，你就会发现这美好无处不在。
Though the goodness of life seems at times to suffer setbacks, it always endures.For in the darkest moment it becomes vividly clear that life is a priceless treasure. And so the goodness of life is made even stronger by the very things that would oppose it. Time and time again when you feared it was gone forever you found that the goodness of life was really only a moment away. Around the next corner, inside every moment, the goodness of life is there to surprise and delight you.
尽管生命的美好有时似乎遭遇挫折，但它总会挺过来。因为，在最黑暗的时刻，有一点变得格外清楚，那就是，生命是无价的财富。因此，正是与生命的美好相对立的事物使其越发强大。无数次地，当你担心这美好已经远离之时，你就会发现生命的美好其实只是与你相隔须臾。它就在下一个角落，存在于每个时刻之间，等着给你惊喜。
Take a moment to let the goodness of life touch your spirit and calm your thoughts.Then, share your good fortune with another. For the goodness of life grows more and more magnificent each time it is given away. Though the problems constantly scream for attention and the conflicts appear to rage ever stronger, the goodness of life grows stronger still, quietly, peacefully, with more purpose and meaning than ever before.
花些时间让生命的美好感动自己的灵魂，放松自己的思绪。然后，把你的幸运与他人分享。因为生命的美好就会在每次给予之间变得越来越壮观。尽管总是有问题让你去关注，冲突也似乎愈演愈烈，但生命的美好却总是静静地、平和地，带着比以往更强的意志和更多的价值变得更为强大。
Wordsand Expressions：
1) at times 有时；偶尔
But doing things we don’t like can be good for us attimes, and so I believe that we should sometimes give them a try.
但是有时候，做我们不喜欢做的事情却对我们有好处。因此，我认为，我们有时候应该试着做不爱做的事。
2) overshadow[əʊvə'ʃædəʊ]v. 使失色；使阴暗；遮阴；夺去…的光彩
He had always been overshadowed by his elder sister.
他与他姐姐相比总是相形见绌。
3) outweigh[aʊt'weɪ] v. 比…重；比…重要；比…有价值
The advantages of this deal largely outweigh thedisadvantages.
这笔交易的利远大于弊。
4) senselessly['senslisli] adv. 毫无知觉地；无意识地；不省人事地
Because of that he always act senselessly, so theteacher sweep him out of the classroom.
老师把那个学生赶出了课堂，因为他老在瞎闹。
5) destructive[dɪ'strʌktɪv]adj. 破坏的；毁灭性的；有害的，消极的
The nuclear weapon is the most destructive instrumentof violence and terror ever invented by humans.
核武器是人类有史以来曾经发明的最具破坏性的暴力与恐怖工具。
6) compassion[kəm'pæʃən]n. 同情；怜悯
I was shocked by the doctor’s lack of compassion.
我对这个医生如此缺乏同情心感到震惊。
7) devote to将……奉献给；把……专用于
She devoted herself to her career.
她全力倾注于自己的事业。
8) heal[hiːl]v. 治愈，痊愈；和解
It took a long time for the wounds to heal.
伤口过了很长时间才愈合。
9) deny[dɪ'naɪ]v. 否定，否认；拒绝
The spokesman refused either to confirm or deny thereports.
发言人对那些报道不置可否。
10) magnificent[mæg'nɪfɪsənt]adj. 高尚的；壮丽的；华丽的；宏伟的
She looked magnificent in her wedding dress.
她穿着婚纱，看上去漂亮极了。
11) vistas['vɪstə] n. 展望，前景
This new job could open up whole new vistas for her.
这项新工作可能给她开辟全新的前景。
12) abundant[əˈbʌndənt]adj. 丰富的；充裕的；盛产
We have abundant evidence to prove his guilt.
我们有充分的证据证明他有罪。
13) encounter[ɪn'kaʊntə] n. 相遇，邂逅
I first encountered him when studying at Cambridge.
我第一次遇到他是在剑桥读书时。
14) setback['setbæk] n. 挫折，退步
The team suffered a major setback when their bestplayer was injured.
最优秀的队员受了伤，使得这支队伍的实力大打折扣。
15) endure[ɪn'djʊə]v. 忍耐；容忍；持续
They had to endure a long wait before the case came totrial.
在此案审理前他们只得忍受长时间的等待。
16) vividly['vɪvɪdli]adv. 生动地；强烈地
This battle was vividly recorded in the article.
本文生动地记载了这次战役。
17) oppose[ə'pəʊz]v. 反对；对抗，抗争
He threw all those that opposed him into prison.
他把所有反对他的人都投进了监狱。
18) delight[dɪ'laɪt]v. (使)高兴
He is delighting audiences with his wit and humour.
他在用自己的智慧和幽默娱乐观众。
19) fortune['fɔːtʃuːn]n. 财富；命运；运气
I have had the good fortune to work with somebrilliant directors.
我有幸与一些卓越的主管人员共事。
20) constantly['kɒnstəntlɪ] adv. 不断地；时常地
Fashion is constantly changing.
时尚总是日新月异。
21) scream[skriːm]v. 尖叫；发出尖锐刺耳的声音；令人触目惊心
He covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.
他捂上她的嘴，不让她叫出声来。
22) conflict['kɒnflɪkt]n. 冲突，矛盾；斗争；争执
She found herself in conflict with her parents overher future career.
她发现自己在将来择业的问题上与父母存在着分歧。
23) rage[reɪdʒ]v. 大怒，发怒；流行，风行
Forest fires were raging out of control.
森林大火迅速蔓延，失去了控制。
24) purpose['pɜːpəs]n. 目的；用途；意志
Our campaign's main purpose is to raise money.
我们这次活动的主要目的就是募款。
★扩展
更多详情解析请参见推荐论文（解读《音乐之声》中的生态教育观）
